One Step Ahead: Almanac Security Tips

In each issue, Penn's Journal of Record, The Almanac publishes helpful tips and hints for dealing with information security and privacy matters. This page is a collection of all those published thus far.

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Table of Contents

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 - Almanac Vol. 55, No. 20

Reminder: Stay Vigilant About Identity Theft!

In these turbulent economic times it is easy to be distracted from important financial basics, such as remaining vigilant about identity theft. Unfortunately, however, major incidents of identity theft continue to occur. This point was brought home recently when a data processing company announced that intruders had hacked into a system that processes 100 million payment card transactions each month. The total number of stolen records in this incident is not yet known, nor is the number of potential identity theft victims.

In our online world, it is virtually impossible to wholly eliminate your risk of being a victim of identity theft. However, there are many important ways to significantly lower your risk of falling victim to this crime. For example:

Do not give out personal information unless you’ve initiated the contact or are sure you know with whom you are dealing.

Place hard-to-guess passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts when possible.

Do not leave your wallet, briefcase, laptop or other property unattended as such property will often provide thieves with most or all of what they need to open up credit accounts in your name.

Get off pre-approved credit offer lists. Don’t let “dumpster divers” get these offers and sign up for them in your name (but at a different address!). Penn’s Privacy website—www.upenn.edu/privacy—describes how to “opt out” of receiving such offers under the “Manage Your Information” tab.